Integrated water supply system for multi-floor buildings

ABSTRACT

The water supply system integrates fire and domestic supplies for a multi-floor building. A vertical ring main ( 11 ) supplies water to a network of pipes ( 50 ) on each floor. Each network includes multiple horizontal ring mains that supply water to both the sprinklers (S) and domestic fixtures (F) for a particular dwelling. Each floor also has a fire hydrant connected ( 16 ) to the vertical ring main. A single pump can be used for each vertical ring main.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventional water services for multi-floor buildings provide water toeach floor through two or more separate piping systems for fire anddomestic use. Each system has a separate pump that is usually housed inthe basement of the building.

Fire protection is typically provided through a system that pumps waterto sprinkler heads and hydrant valves throughout the building. Separatesprinkler and hydrant systems are generally provided. The fire waterservice is rarely used but should be tested regularly to ensure correctoperation in an emergency. In practice however, the tests are oftenneglected and the respective pumps may not be operated for intervals ofseveral years or more.

The domestic service is typically provided through a system that pumpswater to plumbing fixtures through a network of pipes on each floor. Thedomestic system is generally provided separate from the fire system,requiring multiple pipes to each floor and multiple pumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an integrated system thatcombines fire and domestic water services for multi-floor buildings, orat least to provide a useful alternative to existing systems.

The invention may be said to consist in a water supply system for amulti-floor building, including: a vertical pipe that supplies water totwo or more floors in the building, a network of pipes on each floorconnected to the vertical pipe, and a hydrant on each floor connected tothe vertical pipe, wherein the network on each floor includes at leastone horizontal ring main having one or more fire sprinklers and one ormore vertical branches each connected from the ring main to one or moredomestic plumbing fixtures.

Preferably the vertical pipe is part of a vertical ring main thatsupplies water to multiple floors, and the network on each floorincludes multiple horizontal ring mains that supply water to respectivedwellings on the floor.

LIST OF FIGURES

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with respect tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 shows a water service according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention in a multi-floor building;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic of a water-supply sub-systemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a network of water pipes on a single floor inthe building of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of part of a network accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the invention on a single floor of thebuilding in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows a sprinkler component as part of the water-supply networkaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Referring to the drawings it will be appreciated that the invention maybe implemented in various ways for a range of different buildings, andthat this description is given by way of example only.

FIG. 1 shows a water service according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention for a high rise building having 42 floors including car parkand basement levels. Three, sub-systems A, B, C/D provide integratedwater services to floors 25-42, 8-24 and the lower floors respectively,which are supplied as separate zones to ensure acceptable pressurethroughout the height of the building. Each sub-system is a verticalring main supplied by a separate pump (not shown) and includes twovertical branches 11, 12 and two or more horizontal branches 13. Thevertical pipes 11, 12 are typically located in or near a respectivestairwell or hydraulic duct, for at least part of their height.

Each of the sub-systems A, B, C/D in FIG. 1 includes at least one mainring valve 14 and one or more monitored isolating valves 15. Otherdetailed features of these sub-systems will be appreciated by a skilledperson. FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic of a water-supply subsystemaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG.2, each floor within a vertical ring main is provided with an outlet 16to at least one fire hydrant H, and an outlet 17 to a network 50 thatsupplies sprinkler water to sprinklers S and domestic water to fixturesF throughout the floor. The network 50 typically includes a manifold 30that supplies water to a separate ring main 20, 32 for each dwelling onthe floor, although other arrangements are also possible, such as themanifold 30 being part of the main vertical pipe 11, for example.Vertical branches 24 connect the ring main 20, 32 to the fixtures F.Although one vertical branch 24 is shown in FIG. 2, any number ofvertical branches 24 may be used to deliver water to one or morefixtures F in a dwelling unit.

FIG. 3 shows a typical network of water pipes on a floor in the buildingof FIG. 1 as a plan view. The network includes separate horizontal ringmains 20, each supplying water to a respective dwelling, such as arelatively small apartment. In this example, the network includes amanifold 21 which is a central point for each of the ring mains 20.These ring mains 20 are sub-networks of water pipes, most or all ofwhich supply water to both sprinklers S and domestic fixtures F in theparticular dwelling. Each ring main 20 is preferably a simple horizontalloop, formed in the ceiling of the dwelling, with sprinklers S connectedin series and vertical branches 24 for supply of water to the domesticfixtures F in the dwelling.

Ring main 20 in FIG. 3 relates to a relatively small apartment forexample. It includes three sprinkler heads 23 and a single branch 24 fordomestic fixtures. Two outlets 17 for hydrants are shown on the floor.Many variations are possible, such as more than one ring main supplyingwater to a dwelling, or a ring main having a structure more complex thana simple loop, although these are relatively uncommon. Fire hose reelsare also normally provided in addition to the hydrant, and may beconnected to the main pipe 11 or suitably in the network on a particularfloor.

FIG. 4 shows part of a ring main in FIG. 3 as a vertical cross sectionthrough part of a floor. A vertical main pipe 11 supplies water to thefloor. A manifold 30 supplies water from the vertical pipe 11 tomultiple ring mains 32 on the floor, each being a loop having two endpoints 31 in this example. A portion 32 of one horizontal ring main isshown in the ceiling of an apartment, including three sprinklers 23 andvertical branch 24. A domestic fixture is supplied by the branch, inthis case a tap 33 over a pair of sinks. A hydrant 17 on the landing ofthe floor is supplied from the main pipe 11, while a hose reel 34 issupplied from the manifold.

The network in FIG. 4 includes additional features, such as an isolatingvalve 35 and a flow monitor 36, while the branch supplying the domesticfixtures includes an isolating valve 37, a pressure limiting valve 38and a meter 39 for the particular apartment. The flow monitor 36 may betriggered by an increased water flow to transmit an alarm to a centralstation, indicating that the sprinklers have been activated. Othercomponents may be included or omitted as required to suit the localenvironment.

FIG. 5 shows a typical sprinkler 23 from FIG. 4 in vertical crosssection. Each sprinkler is preferably also formed of standard componentsincluding a head 40 and a T-junction 41, located in a ceiling box 42.The ring main itself is preferably formed by an assembly of retrievablepipes 43 within sleeves 44 embedded in concrete 45.

Within each horizontal ring main, the sprinkler and domestic watersupplies are combined in a single part of the overall network for therespective floor. Operation of a domestic fixture draws water throughthe respective ring main past the sprinklers and down the respectivebranch to the fixture. This prevents stagnation that would otherwiseoccur in a separate sprinkler system and effectively tests the sprinklersystem on a daily basis.

Within each vertical ring main, the pipes supplying sprinklers, domesticsupply and hydrants are combined as a single system over multiplefloors. Operation of domestic fixtures within each vertical ring maindraws water through the vertical pipe past the hydrants and againeffectively tests the hydrant system and pump on a daily basis.

1. A water-supply system that provides integrated water services to amulti-story building, comprising: at least one vertical pipe thatsupplies water to at least two floors of the multi-story building; atleast one hydrant at each floor connected to the at least one verticalpipe; and a water-supply network at each floor connected to the verticalpipe, the network comprising: a plurality of horizontal ring mains eachsupplying water to a respective one of a plurality of dwelling units oneach floor; at least one fire sprinkler connected to each of theplurality of horizontal rings mains; and at least one vertical branchthat connects at least one of the plurality of horizontal ring mains toat least one domestic plumbing fixture.
 2. The water-supply system ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of horizontal ring mains are connected tothe at least one vertical pipe through a manifold.
 3. The water-supplysystem of claim 1, further comprising a monitor for activating an alarmwhen the system is in a fire mode.
 4. The water-supply system of claim1, wherein the network further comprises at least one hose reel.
 5. Thewater-supply system of claim 1, wherein operation of the at least onedomestic plumbing fixture draws water from the at least one verticalpipe, around the at least one of the plurality of ring mains, and downthe at least one vertical branch to the fixture.
 6. A water-supplyservice for a multi-story building having a plurality of zones,comprising: a plurality of water supply systems, each of the pluralityof water supply systems supplying water to a corresponding one of theplurality of zones and comprising: at least one vertical pipe thatsupplies water to floors located in the corresponding zone; at least onehydrant connected to the at least one vertical pipe at each of thefloors; and a water-supply network connected to the vertical pipe ateach of the floors, the network comprising: a plurality of horizontalring mains each supplying water to a respective one of a plurality ofdwelling units on each floor; at least one fire sprinkler connected toeach of the plurality of horizontal rings mains; and at least onevertical branch that connects at least one of the plurality ofhorizontal ring mains to at least one domestic plumbing fixture.